<p>I am just beginning the AP Calculus course and am wondering whether my Ti-83 is good enough to use, or whether a better version would make a difference. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Not your question -- but whatever you do, put new batteries in the calculator you use before you go into the test. My son didn't and ended up having to do some calculations by hand!</p>
<p>He's been through so many calculators at this point I don't remember what he used for first year calculus.</p>
<p>Your teacher should be able to tell you if your calculator is sufficient. If you find you need a new one during the course, then you know you need another one.</p>
<p>Once you get to looking at practice tests, you can see if you can do them with your current calculator.</p>
<p>The TI-83 is probably the best thing you can use for the purpose of the course. It does everything for you that the AP test (and probably your class) would require of you. Getting anything more advanced than the 83 is not really a good idea for now. More advanced calculators can do all kinds of neat fancy things (I don't know exactly what because I don't have them), but they do so much that they can basically take the AP test for you, so they are not allowed for use on the test. Your 83 is perfect for now, and if you ever take more advanced calculus you can look into a better calculator later.</p>
<p>Ti-89 wins hands down. No comparision.</p>
<p>If your class is like mine, most people with have a Ti-83 which is definitely sufficient. The teacher then teaches how to use the Ti-83 and those few students with the 89s are left to figure out their complicated calculators on their own.</p>
<p>A TI-83 is just fine. I use a plus one and I've had no problems with it. It's quite easy to use and its been trustworthy for about 5 years.</p>
<p>If the class is taught for the TI-83, that's the end of the story. Maybe even if everyone else is using one. If you already own a TI-83 and don't want to spend the extra money, that's OK.</p>
<p>Otherwise the TI-89 is superior in countless ways, not the least of which is easier command-line editing.</p>
<p>We weren't even allowed to use calculators in my Cal classes.</p>
<p>I used a TI-83 during calculus until it got stolen in mid-first trimester. I decided to upgrade to a TI-84 Silver Edition. The 83 works fine, I ran into little or no difficulties at all. However, using applications on the Silver Edition proves to be helpful at times. Inequalities of graphs, a separate periodic table (for Chemistry actually,) and many other functions. Since you already have an 83, I suggest sticking with it unless 1) it gets stolen, or 2) you desire the additional functions that make your life easier. The guy sitting next to me uses a TI-89. He tells me it works fine, but so far in calculus I have not ran into -many- things that his calculator can do but not mine. Hope this helps, good luck in calculus. Remember, it's not always the calculator, it's you.</p>
<p>In college, it is entirely possible that calculators will not be allowed on tests or exams. Even in highschool, a good class shouldn't rely on them much. It's nice, though, to do your homework by hand and then check it with a calculator, especially a TI-89 that can do symbolic manipulation. This assumes you don't have access to Maple or Mathematica or other symbolically capable tools.</p>
<p>TI-89, nothing else compares.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. I guess I'll stick with my 83!!</p>
<p>Yeah, TI-83 is fairly basic and sufficient.</p>
<p>If you do know how to operate a TI-89 or TI-92, go for it, but you won't be able to use them on the AP exam to my knowledge.</p>
<p>84-plus is awesome...but mine refuses to do integrals unless i get someone to show me how to do it each time :(</p>
<p>89 definitely gives you so many advantages, which, however, i dont have because i'm using a 83...the most beneficial advantage 89 has over 83 is doing symbol differentiation and integration. This really helps AP Calc takers a lot because they can easily verify their results through it.</p>
<p>ti 89 can solve derivatives for you</p>
<p>if you use a ti 83, there are still programs that you can download to help you in calc</p>
<p>Using the 89 is like becoming a samurai; once you master the weapon, you'll be unstoppable. Sure, the 83 isn't bad; you just won't be using the sharpest sword.</p>
<p>The 89 is allowed on the AP exam. Basically only the 92 isnt. The 89 is god, although its almost cheating using it, almost.</p>
<p>The 89 is the greatest thing that has ever happened in math however we are not allowed to use the calculator for problem sets or any tests or quizzes so they are pretty useless.</p>